erlestanleygardner.thecaseofthehorrifiedheirs-第28节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　〃We　take　those　with　us；〃　Mason　said；　〃but　we　try　not　to　think　about　them　until　after　dinner。〃
　
　CHAPTER　TWENTY
　Della　Street；　seated　across　the　table　from　Perry　Mason；　regarded　him　solicitously。
　The　lawyer　had　eaten　his　broiled　steak　mechanically；　as　though　hardly　knowing　what　he　was　putting　in　his　mouth。　Now；　he　was　sipping　after…dinner　black　coffee；　his　eyes　fixed　on　the　dancing　couples　who　glided　over　the　floor。　His　gaze　was　not　following　any　particular　couple　but　his　eyes　were　focused　on　the　sea　of　lights　visible　in　the　valley　below　through　one　of　the　big　windows。
　Della　Street's　hand　crept　across　the　table；　rested　reassuringly　on　the　lawyer's　hand。　Her　fingers　tightened。
　〃You're　worried；　aren't　you？〃
　His　eyes　swiftly　flashed　to　hers；　blinked　as　he　got　her　in　focus；　and　his　sudden　smile　was　warm。　〃Just　thinking；　that's　all；　Della。〃
　〃Worried？〃　she　asked。
　〃All　right；　worried。〃
　〃About　your　client；　or　about　yourself？〃
　〃Both。〃
　〃You　can't　let　it　get　you　down；〃　she　said；　her　hand　still　resting　on　his。
　Mason　said；　〃A　lawyer　isn't　like　a　doctor。　A　doctor　has　scores　of　patients；　some　of　them　young　and　curable；　some　of　them　old　and　suffering　from　diseases　that　are　incurable。　It's　the　nature　of　life　that　individuals　move　in　a　stream　from　birth　to　death。　A　doctor　can't　get　so　wrapped　up　in　his　patients　that　he　suffers　for　them。
　〃A　lawyer　is　different。　He　has　relatively　fewer　clients。　Most　of　their　troubles　are　curable；　if　a　lawyer　only　knew　exactly　what　to　do。　But　whether　they're　curable　or　not；　a　lawyer　can　always　better　his　client　somewhere　along　the　line　if　he　can　get　the　right　bination。〃
　〃How　about　yourself？〃　she　asked。
　Mason　grinned　and　said；　〃I　led　with　my　chin。　I　knew；　of　course；　that　someone　had　taken　Virginia's　car　and　that　it　had　bee　involved　in　an　accident。　I　felt　that　it　was　a　trap　and　someone　had　made　an　attempt　to　frame　her。
　〃If　that　had　been　the　case；　I　was　perfectly　justified　in　doing　what　I　did。
　〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　I　was　justified　anyway。　I　didn't　know　any　crime　had　been　mitted。　I　did　know　that　an　attempt　had　been　made　to　frame　a　crime　on　Virginia　a　short　time　earlier　and　I　was　trying　to　protect…Of　course；　if　I'd　known　a　murder　had　been　mitted　and　the　car　had　been　involved；　then　my　actions　would　have　been　criminal。　After　all；　it's　a　question　of　intent。〃
　The　lawyer　glanced　back　to　the　dance　floor；　his　eyes　followed　a　couple　for　a　moment；　then　again　became　focused　on　the　distance。
　Abruptly　he　turned　to　Della　Street　and　put　his　hand　over　hers。　〃Thanks　for　your　loyalty；　Della；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　not　much　on　putting　those　things　into　words。　I　guess　perhaps　I　take　you　too　much　for　granted；　like　the　air　I　breathe　and　the　water　I　drink；　but　that　doesn't　mean　I　don't　appreciate　all　you　do。〃
　He　stroked　her　fingers。
　〃Your　hands；〃　he　said；　〃are　wonderfully　reassuring。　You　have　petent　hands；　feminine　hands　but；　nevertheless；　strong　hands。〃
　She　laughed　self…consciously。　〃Years　of　typing　have　strengthened　the　fingers。〃
　〃Years　of　loyalty　have　strengthened　the　meaning。〃
　She　gave　his　hand　a　quick　squeeze；　then；　aware　that　they　were　attracting　attention；　abruptly　withdrew　her　hand。
　Mason　started　to　look　at　the　distant　sea　of　light　again　then；　suddenly；　his　eyes　widened。
　〃An　idea？〃　she　asked。
　〃Good　heavens；〃　Mason　said。　He　was　silent　for　several　moments；　then　said；　〃Thanks　for　the　inspiration；　Della。〃
　She　raised　inquiring　eyebrows。
　〃Did　I　suggest　something？〃　she　asked。
　〃Yes；　what　you　said　about　typing。〃
　〃It's　like　piano　playing；〃　she　said。　〃It　strengthens　the　hand　and　fingers。〃
　Mason　said；　〃Our　second　question：　Why　did　they　want　to　frame　a　crime　on　Virginia　Baxter。　The　answer　I　gave　you　is　wrong。〃
　〃I　don't　get　it；〃　she　said。　〃It's　the　most　logical　answer　in　the　world。　It　seems　that　would　be　the　only　reason　they　could　possibly　have　for　framing　a　crime　on　her；　then　her　subsequent　testimony　could　be　impeached　if　she　had　been　convicted　of…〃
　Mason　interrupted　with　a　shake　of　his　head。　〃They　didn't　want　to　convict　her；〃　he　said。　〃They　wanted　to　be　sure　that　she　would　be　out　of　the　way。〃
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　〃They　wanted　to　get　into　her　apartment；　get　her　stationery　and　her　typewriter。〃
　〃But　they　knew　she　was　on　a　plane　and…〃
　〃They　probably　didn't　know　it　in　time；〃　Mason　interrupted。　〃She'd　only　been　to　San　Francisco　and　had　been　away　overnight。　They　had　to　be　absolutely　certain　that　they　would　have　access　to　the　typewriter　and　Bannock's　stationery　and　be　absolutely　certain　that　Virginia　wouldn't　be　home　until　they　had　done　what　they　intended　to　do。〃
　〃And　what　did　they　intend　to　do？〃　Della　asked。
　Mason；　his　face　flushed　with　animation　as　his　mind　speeded　over　the　situation；　said；　〃Good　Lord；　Della；　I　should　have　seen　it　all　a　long　time　ago。　Did　you　notice　anything　peculiar　about　that　will？〃
　〃You　mean　the　way　in　which　she　left　the　property？〃
　〃No。　The　way　in　which　the　will　was　drawn；〃　Mason　said。　〃Notice　that　the　residuary　clause　was　on　the　first　page。　。　。　。　How　many　wills　have　you　typed；　Della？〃
　〃Heaven　knows；〃　she　said；　laughing。　〃With　all　my　experience　in　a　law　office；　I've　typed　plenty。〃
　〃Exactly；〃　Mason　said。　〃And　in　every　one　of　them；　the　will　has　been　drafted　so　that　the　specific　bequests　are　mentioned　and　then；　at　the　close　of　the　will；　the　testator　says　'all　of　the　rest；　residue　and　remainder　of　my　estate；　of　whatsoever　nature　and　wheresoever　situated；　I　give；　devise　and　bequeath　to　。　。　。'〃
　〃That's　right；〃　she　said。
　Mason　said；　〃They　had　a　will。　The　last　page　of　it　is　authentic。　Probably　the　second　page　is　authentic；　the　first　page　is　a　forgery；　typed　on　Bannock's　typewriter　and　on　his　stationery；　but　typed　within　the　last　few　days。
　〃There's　a　substitute　page　in　that　will…and　it　had　to　be　done　on　the　same　typewriter　that　was　used　at　Bannock's　office　and　whoever　forged　it　had　to　have　an　opportunity　to　use　that　typewriter。〃
　〃But　who　forged　it？〃　Della　Street　asked。
　〃On　a　document　of　that　sort；〃　Mason　said；　〃the　person　or　persons　who　made　the　forgery　are　most　apt　to　be　the　persons　who　benefited　by　the　forgery。〃
　〃All　four　of　the　surviving　relatives　are　beneficiaries；〃　she　said。
　〃And　the　doctor；　the　nurse　and　the　chauffeur；〃　Mason　supplemented。
　The　lawyer　was　thoughtfully　silent　for　a　moment；　then　said；　〃There　was　one　thing　about　the　first　case　we　had　for　Virginia　Baxter　that　puzzled　me。〃
　〃What　was　that？〃
　〃The　officer　stating　that　he　couldn't　divulge　the　name　of　the　person　who　had　tipped　them　off；　but　that　person　had　been　thoroughly　dependable　in　his　prior　tip…offs。〃
　〃I　still　don't　get　it；〃　Della　Street　said。
　〃Whoever　wanted　to　forge　that　will　must　have　known　a　police　informer；　bribed　him　to　give　false　information　and　arranged　to　plant　the　dope　in　Virginia's　suitcase。〃
　Mason　pushed　back　his　chair；　jumped　to　his　feet；　looked　around　for　their　waiter。
　〃e　on；　Della；〃　he　said；　〃we　have　work　to　do。〃
　The　waiter　not　being　immediately　available；　Mason　dropped　a　twenty…dollar　bill　and　a　ten…dollar　bill　on　the　table　and　said；　〃That　will　cover　the　check　and　the　tip。〃
　〃But　that's　way　too　much；〃　Della　Street　protested；　〃and　I　have　to　keep　a　record　of　expenses。〃
　〃Don't　keep　a　record　of　these　expenses；〃　Mason　said。　〃Time　is　worth　more　than　keeping　accurate　records。　e　on；　let's　go。〃
　
　CHAPTER　TWENTY…ONE
　Paul　Drake　was　seated　in　his　cubbyhole　of　an　office；　at　the　end　of　a　long；　narrow　rabbit…warren　runway。　Fourtelephones　were　on　his　desk。　A　paper　plate　with　part　of　a　hamburger　sandwich　and　a　soiled；　greasy　paper　napkin　had　been　pushed　to　one　side。
　Drake　had　a　paper　container　filled　with　coffee　in　front　of　him。　He　was　holding　a　telephone　to　his　ear　and；　intermittently；　sipping　coffee　as　Mason　and　Della　Street　entered。
　〃All　right；〃　Drake　said　into　the　telephone；　〃stay　with　it　as　best　you　can。　Keep　in　touch　with　me。〃
　Drake　hung　up　the　telephone；　regarded　the　lawyer　and　his　secretary　in　dour　appraisal；　said；　〃Okay；　here　you　e　fairly　reeking　of　filet　mignon；　baked　potatoes；　French　fried　onions；　garlic　bread　and　vintage　wine。　I've　gagged　down　another　greasy　hamburger　sandwich；　and　already　my　stomach　is　beginning　to…〃
　〃Forget　it；〃　Mason　interrupted。　〃What　did　you　find　out　about　the　motel；　Paul？〃
　〃Nothing　that'll　help；〃　Drake　said。　〃A　man　checked　in　all　right；　and　his　bed　wasn't　slept　in。　He's　probably　our　man；　but　the　name　and　address　he　gave　were　phony；　the　license　of　the　car　he　wrote　down　was　incorrect…〃
　〃But　it　was　an　Oldsmobile；　wasn't　it？〃　Mason　asked。
　Drake　cocked　an　eyebrow。　〃That's　right；〃　he　said。　〃The　car　was　listed　as　an　Olds。　。　。　。　They　don't　usually　dare　put　a　wrong　make　on　the　register　when　they're　putting　down　the　make　of　the　car；　but　they　do　juggle　the　license　numbers　around；　sometimes　transposing　the　figures　and…〃
　〃The　description？〃　Mason　asked。
　〃Nothing　worthwhile；〃　Drake　said。　〃A　rather　heavyset　man　with…〃
　〃Dark　eyes　and　a　mustache；〃　Mason　said。
　Drake　raised　his　eyebrows。　〃How　did　you　get　all　of　this？〃
　〃It　checks；〃　Mason　said。
　〃Go　on；〃　Drake　told　him。
　Mason　said；　〃Paul；　how　many　contacts　do　you　have？　That　is；　intimate　contacts　in　police　circles？〃
　〃Quite　a　few；〃　Drake　said。　〃I　give　them　tips；　they　give　me　tips。　Of　course；　they　wouldn't　let　me　get　away　with　anything。　They'd　bust　me　and　take　my　license　in　a　minute